Literacy as freedom
by Sanja Pejović
The roots of education and literacy in Montenegro span centuries, as deep and steadfast as Lovćen and the rocks that guard Cetinje-a town of enduring foundations, freedom, and spirituality, the centuries-old center of the Montenegrin kingdom, and today’s cultural, spiritual, and historical capital of Montenegro. At its core, Montenegrin education took shape through tumultuous historical periods, whereas a distinguished place in this mission belongs to printing-a venerable vocation that for centuries served as a guardian of identity and an inextinguishable hearth of Montenegrin spirituality.
A town whose illustrious history testifies to the people’s determination to defend their freedom while simultaneously spreading literacy and knowledge, Cetinje courageously resisted the enemy during the Ottoman conquests, fighting not only with weapons for freedom and dignity but also with the pen, which became a means for defending the right to the written word, the right to record, and ultimately, the right to their own history. In this spirit, more than half a millennium ago, the first state printing house in the Slavic world was founded in Cetinje- the renowned Crnojević Printing House, a testament to the unwavering will of the people to defend themselves against oblivion and subjugation through knowledge. It was here that the first book in the Slavic language was created, the precursor of a series of works that would, through the centuries, carry the strength and spirit of our culture. In this sense, The Oktoechos of the First Tone was a testament to the spiritual strength of Montenegro-a potency that resists time, injustice, and destruction-while Cetinje became a place where books embodied freedom, dignity, and identity.
The fate of printing in Montenegro suffered a devastating blow when, under the threat of the Ottoman invasion, Đurađ Crnojević was forced to leave his homeland. With his departure, Montenegrin printing ceased for the next 340 years. However, the tradition of Montenegrin printing was carried on by printers from our region in Venice, among whom a particularly distinguished figure was the printer and duke Božidar Vuković, who established a printing house in 1519, followed by his son Vićenco in the mid-16th century. Nevertheless, printing in Montenegro, in the true sense of the word, was only revitalized in the 19th century when Petar II Petrović Njegoš decided to reestablish printing and thus improve education in his country. On January 22, 1834, after a long journey from Saint Petersburg, Njegoš’s printing press arrived in Cetinje, packed in 47 crates. It was a historic moment that marked the return of the written word and the revival of Montenegro’s literary heritage.
The establishment of printing houses in Cetinje laid the foundations of a cultural tradition that would be a source of pride even for much larger nations than ours. In this regard, what is particularly astonishing is the fact that in this small town, in a small country on the fringes of major world events, the first book in the Slavic language was printed as early as 1494-just forty years after the German printer Johannes Gutenberg produced the world’s first printed book on his press in Mainz. While Europe was only beginning to step onto the path of printing, little Cetinje boldly kept pace with the times, becoming the birthplace of Slavic literacy and spirituality.
The Montenegrin printing press was not only a symbol of culture but also a symbol of the struggle for survival. In its fight for freedom, Montenegro often made the greatest sacrifices-including its own printing press. During the attack on Montenegro in 1852, Prince Danilo Petrović, faced with a shortage of ammunition, ordered that the type from Njegoš’s printing press, after just twenty years of operation, be melted down and turned into bullets, declaring: “If there is Montenegro, there will be letters.” Prince Danilo kept his word, and between 1858 and 1860, he reinstated the printing press, modernizing its technology and giving it new momentum in the service of Montenegrin education and culture.
It is no surprise, then, that Cetinje, building upon this esteemed tradition, remains not only the cultural and historical center of Montenegro but also the seat of numerous educational institutions, faculties, extensive libraries, and organizations that continue to foster the spirit of knowledge, enlightenment, and culture. That is why today, the words of Prince Danilo resonate as an enduring truth and hold special significance-to remember his words, to continue writing, reading, and preserving our language, for with every written letter, we safeguard the spirit of Montenegro, its identity, and the perpetuity of our values for generations to come.